Highbury East Liberal Democrats

Over half-a-million pounds of funding is being dished out to community groups near the Emirates Stadium in Highbury East and Highbury West.

More than 20 organisations are set to receive money from the Arsenal FC Community Benefit Fund - a pot of cash available to help set up local projects, or continue to run existing ones.

It includes more than £30,000 getting young people into sports projects; £30,000 to help grow organic food without the need for any green space; and over £70,000 to tenants’ and residents’ associations for community activities.

Islington Council secured the cash as part of a legal agreement when the Emirates Stadium was built.

Cllr Terry Stacy, said: “We asked local people to tell us how they thought this money should be spent, and we’ve listened to their views.  We are really pleased with the projects in our area that will get funding.”

More than 80 applications were received, totalling more than £2million. Projects are near the stadium in the Highbury East, Highbury West and Holloway areas - which include some of the borough’s most deprived neighbourhoods.

Priorities for funding included young people, older people, environmental projects, community facilities, health and skills for life. The funding was secured by Islington Council from Arsenal FC, as part of a planning agreement to build the new Emirates stadium - known as “a section 106 planning agreement.

The projects to be funded:

• Access to Sports Project: Sports coaching programme at community venues - £30,000
• Centre 404: Support to disabled children and thei r families - £12,422
• Drayton Park Primary School PTA: Improvements to school infants playground to increase activities - £12,161
• Friends of Gillespie Home School Association: To transform the existing tarmac surface of the school playground into a Green Learning and Activity Zone - £30,000
• Friends of Paradise Park and Islington Play Association in partnership: Improvements to children’s centre facilities and park - £26,272
• Highbury Builders Collective: vertical wooden structures which allow communities to grow organic vegetables in small indoor spaces - £30,000
• Highbury Roundhouse Youth and Community Centre: project supporting new estate based youth group and the roundhouses 3rd age project for older people - £29,990
• Highbury Vale Blackstock Trust: Refurbishment of sports hall at Elizabeth House - £30,000
• Fire Station Community Centre (Holloway Neighbourhood Group): Renovation of community facilities - £29,354
• Hyde Village Community a nd Social Association: Aims to set up a number of activities for local people at three community locations on Hyde housing estates - £16,000
• Islington Law Centre: Improvements to law centre reception - £29,997
• Islington Somali Community: Work with young people to tackle anti social activities - £24,385
• Islington Time Bank Network: Engage students at City and Islington college in volunteering with local projects - £29,300
• The Parish of St. Mary Magdalene and St. David: Refurbishment to provide modern community building at Westbourne Road N7 - £30,000
• Martin Luther King and Hyde Plus: To fund work at the new youth centre ‘Ringcross Youth Facility’ and outreach on all local estates - £30,000
• North London Central Mosque: Engage with young residents in targeted wards - £30,000
• Olden Gardens Community Project: Support to a community garden - £30,000
• Quadrant Gardening Club in collaboration with the Highbury Quadrant Tenants and
• Residents Association: Community gardening project involving volunteers in improving green spaces on estate - £30,000
• Quill Street Residents Association: a three year programme of events for residents planned by the residents association - £9,213
• St Thomas Church Finsbury Park and St Thomas’s Playgroup: Improvements to kichen and toilet facilities - £25,000
• Vaudeville Court Tenants and Residents Association: Pilot green time bank based at a council estate on St.Thomas Road - £14,964